by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Austin Peay State University first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Austin Peay State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Austin Peay State University has freshmen retention rates near the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Austin Peay State University | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
There were approximately 1593 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 37% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 44% of the students had graduated and after eight years 45% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Austin Peay State University graduation rate 44%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1351 | 37% |
| Six Years | 1593 | 44% |
| Eight Years | 34 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1988 | 55% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1988 students or 55% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1988 students who did not complete their degree?
8 are still enrolled.
1015 transferred to another institution.
Austin Peay State University lost contact with the remaining 923 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 1015 | 51.1% |
| Dropped Out | 923 | 46.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 59% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 47% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 37% |
| Unknown | 48% |
| White | 47% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at Austin Peay State University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Austin Peay State University represent 46.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Austin Peay State University graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 44% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Austin Peay State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 47.82% |
956 first-time / full-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
453 transferred to another institution.
Austin Peay State University lost contact with the remaining 480 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 2.41% |
| Transferred | 453 | 47.38% |
| Dropped Out | 480 | 50.21% |
First-time / part-time students at Austin Peay State University represent 11.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Austin Peay State University graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 31% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Austin Peay State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 29% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
282 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
138 transferred to another institution.
Austin Peay State University lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.06% |
| Transferred | 138 | 48.94% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Austin Peay State University represent 22.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Austin Peay State University graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 58% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Austin Peay State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
344 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
186 transferred to another institution.
Austin Peay State University lost contact with the remaining 142 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 4.65% |
| Transferred | 186 | 54.07% |
| Dropped Out | 142 | 41.28% |
Returning / part-time students at Austin Peay State University represent 19.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Austin Peay State University graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 41% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Austin Peay State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
406 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
238 transferred to another institution.
Austin Peay State University lost contact with the remaining 160 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 238 | 58.62% |
| Dropped Out | 160 | 39.41% |
